Temporal disorder in up-down symmetric systems

The effect of temporal disorder on systems with up-down Z2 symmetry is studied. In particular, we analyze two well-known families of phase transitions: the Ising and the generalized voter universality classes, and scrutinize the consequences of placing them under fluctuating global conditions. We observe that variability of the control parameter induces in both classes "Temporal Griffiths Phases" (TGP). These recently-uncovered phases are analogous to standard Griffiths Phases appearing in systems with quenched spatial disorder, but where the roles of space and time are exchanged. TGPs are characterized by broad regions in parameter space in which (i) mean first-passage times scale algebraically with system size, and (ii) the system response (e.g. susceptibility) diverges. Our results confirm that TGPs are quite robust and ubiquitous in the presence of temporal disorder. Possible applications of our results to examples in ecology are discussed

Gene deficiency in activating Fcγ receptors influences the macrophage phenotypic balance and reduces atherosclerosis in mice

Immunity contributes to arterial inflammation during atherosclerosis. Oxidized low-density lipoproteins induce an autoimmune response characterized by specific antibodies and immune complexes in atherosclerotic patients. We hypothesize that specific Fcγ receptors for IgG constant region participate in atherogenesis by regulating the inflammatory state of lesional macrophages. In vivo we examined the role of activating Fcγ receptors in atherosclerosis progression using bone marrow transplantation from mice deficient in γ-chain (the common signaling subunit of activating Fcγ receptors) to hyperlipidemic mice. Hematopoietic deficiency of Fcγ receptors significantly reduced atherosclerotic lesion size, which was associated with decreased number of macrophages and T lymphocytes, and increased T regulatory cell function. Lesions of Fcγ receptor deficient mice exhibited increased plaque stability, as evidenced by higher collagen and smooth muscle cell content and decreased apoptosis. These effects were independent of changes in serum lipids and antibody response to oxidized low-density lipoproteins. Activating Fcγ receptor deficiency reduced pro-inflammatory gene expression, nuclear factor-κB activity, and M1 macrophages at the lesion site, while increasing anti-inflammatory genes and M2 macrophages. The decreased inflammation in the lesions was mirrored by a reduced number of classical inflammatory monocytes in blood. In vitro, lack of activating Fcγ receptors attenuated foam cell formation, oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory gene expression, and increased M2-associated genes in murine macrophages. Our study demonstrates that activating Fcγ receptors influence the macrophage phenotypic balance in the artery wall of atherosclerotic mice and suggests that modulation of Fcγ receptor-mediated inflammatory responses could effectively suppress atherosclerosis

Instantaneous Three-dimensional Thermal Structure of the South Polar Vortex of Venus

The Venus thermal radiation spectrum exhibits the signature of $CO_2$ absorption bands. By means of inversion techniques, those bands enable the retrieval of atmospheric temperature profiles. We have analyzed VIRTIS-M-IR night-side data obtaining high-resolution thermal maps of Venus south polar region between 55 and 85 km altitudes for three dynamical configurations of the vortex. The cold collar is clearly distinguishable at $\sim 62$ km altitude level, and it is more than 15 K colder than the pole on average. The South Polar Vortex appears as a vertically extended hot region close to the pole and squeezed by the cold collar between altitudes 55 and 67 km but spreading equatorward at about 74 km. Both the instantaneous temperature maps and their zonal averages show that the top altitude limit of the thermal signature of the vortex is at $\sim 80$ km altitude, at least on the night-side of the planet. The upper part of the atmosphere (67 - 85 km) is more homogeneous and has long-scale horizontal temperature differences of about 25 K over horizontal distances of $\sim 2,000$ km. The lower part (55 - 67 km) shows more fine-scale structure, creating the vortex' morphology, with thermal differences of up to about 50 K over $\sim 500$ km horizontal distances. We also study the vertical stability of different atmospheric layers within the 55 - 85 km altitude range for the three vortex configurations. It is always positive, but the cold collar is the most vertically stable structure at polar latitudes, while the vortex and sub-polar latitudes show lower stability values. Furthermore, the hot filaments present within the vortex exhibit lower stability values than their surroundings. The layer between 62 and 67 km resulted to be the most stable. These results are in good agreement with conclusions from previous radio occultation analyses

Temperature-dependence of the hyperfine interaction in the cubic phase of BaHfO₃

The temperature dependence of the hyperfine interaction in the paraelectric phase of BaHfO₃ in the temperature range from liquid-nitrogen temperature to 1350 K has been studied. The experimental results show an Abragam-Pound mechanism for the attenuation of the angular correlation. In this cubic structure the attenuation would be consistent with a relaxation mechanism that involves O-ion hopping between vacant sites in the lattice. Using the point-charge model for the estimation of the electric field gradient produced by an O vacancy in the coordination sphere of the probe ion, the process is characterized by a correlation time τ_(c) = 12 ± 1 ps at RT

Measurable residual disease (MRD) dynamics in multiple myeloma and the influence of clonal diversity analyzed by artificial intelligence.

Minimal residual disease (MRD) assessment is a known surrogate marker for survival in multiple myeloma (MM). Here, we present a single institutions experience assessing MRD by NGS of Ig genes and the long-term impact of depth of response as well as clonal diversity on the clinical outcome of a large population of MM patients; 482 MM patients at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) diagnosed from 2008 to 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. MRD assessment was performed by NGS. PFS curves were plotted by the Kaplan-Meier method. In the newly diagnosed group, 119 of 304, achieved MRD negativity at the level of 10-6 at least once. These patients had a prolonged PFS versus patients who were persistently MRD positive at different levels (p > 0.0001). In the relapsed disease group, 64 of 178 achieved MRD negativity at 10-6, and PFS was prolonged versus patients who remained MRD positive (p = 0.03). Three categories of MRD dynamics were defined by artificial intelligence: (A) patients with ≥3 consistently MRD negative samples, (B) patients with continuously declining but detectable clones, and (C) patients with either increasing or a stable number of clones. Groups A and B had a more prolonged PFS than group C (p < 10-7). Patients who were MRD positive and had not yet relapsed had a higher clonal diversity than those patients who were MRD positive and had relapsed. MRD dynamics can accurately predict disease evolution and drive clinical decision-making. Clonal Diversity could complement MRD assessment in the prediction of outcomes in MM

Improving control of quadrotors carrying a manipulator arm

International audienc

Radical radiotherapy in epidermoid cancer in the orbitary region: ideal scheme of hypo-fractionation in times of COVID-19: a case report

There are adverse events in the patient's environment that impact on therapeutic decisions and become a medical challenge, as is currently the management of cancer patients with radiotherapy, particularly the elderly in times of a COVID-19 pandemic, due the high risk of infection and fatal complications from non-cancer causes. Here we present the case of an 84-year-old woman with voluminous squamous cell cancer in the left orbital region, which caused intense pain, stench, and persistent bleeding. And due to persistence and time, it impacted with deterioration in the patient’s quality of life. In the end, of hypo fractionated radiotherapy management as the only modality, it evolves with a complete clinical response and total palliation of initial symptoms. The reasons for the decision to manage radiotherapy and the excellent clinical results that reinforce the idea of personalized medicine and the importance of evaluating the biopsychosocial environment of the cancer patient will be discussed

Radiation-damage produced in BaHfO₃ irradiated with thermal and fast-neutrons

Samples of BaHfO₃ were irradiated with fast and thermal neutrons to produce ^181Hf. Attenuations of the gamma-gamma perturbed angular correlations in ^181Ta were observed, and they may have been caused by the interaction between defects (produced during or after neutron irradiation) and oxygen vacancies. Several defect structures were detected. For one of the structures, an excitation energy of 12 meV was measured, which was attributed to an electron state below the conduction band. The values of the dielectric constant and of the effective electron mass were also deduced